Washington Wizards Media Conference

Sunday, December 15, 2024

Washington, DC, USA

Carlton Carrington

Media Conference


Celtics - 112, Wizards - 98

Q. What did you feel like was the difference in this game tonight?

CARLTON CARRINGTON: I would say our second half intensity. First half we were a little flat. We picked it up in the second half, picked it up defensively, held them to -- I want to say under 50 points in the second half. That was a big difference.

Q. How did you guys pick it up in the second half? Was it just effort or intensity difference?

CARLTON CARRINGTON: Yeah, we kept the same game plan. It wasn't Xs and Os adjustments. We were flat. We just didn't come out with the intensity that we came out with in the second half.

Q. Do you have any idea what led to the flatness at the beginning of the game?

CARLTON CARRINGTON: Human nature, honestly, yeah.

Q. BK's talked a lot about how you want to have multiple ball handlers. Boston is a good example of that. What do you see that makes them so hard to defend, and what do you want to emulate that in the Wizards going forward?

CARLTON CARRINGTON: Like you said, they all can dribble, pass, and shoot. It makes them extremely hard to guard when they drive or create offensive triggers because you don't really want to help that much because you help and it's probably a 43 percent three-point shooter. That's what makes Boston kind of Boston.

Q. What are you learning about what it takes to generate free-throws in the NBA?

CARLTON CARRINGTON: It's impossible for a rookie. Literally, impossible.

Q. What do you think that you and the rest of the young guys can learn about being in the NBA going through a tough slump like that?

CARLTON CARRINGTON: What can we learn?

Q. Yes.

CARLTON CARRINGTON: I would say like we're all here for a reason. It's more so like just the discipline factor. Like the older guys, or the guys that we're playing against that have been here before, they just know when to do things a lot more than when we know how to do things, if that makes sense. The level of focus and discipline is that much better, and that makes them that much better. One thing we can learn is how to do that.

Q. When you talk about generating free-throws, is it a deference to veterans that referees are showing? It's the second game that BK has talked about the disparity that you faced?

CARLTON CARRINGTON: NBA is a respect league, respect driven league. Refs do a good job every day, every night. They make mistakes, though, just like us.

It's common knowledge that you're more likely to get that foul if you're a Jayson Tatum than a Bub Carrington.

Q. What do you think about Bilal and the fact that he has such tough defensive assignments every night and has a pretty large role on offense at the same time?

CARLTON CARRINGTON: Bilal is amazing. I don't know how he does it honestly. Every single night he has to guard the best players. He has no off nights.

I just ask him on the court when we're playing getting up-and-down, I'm like, I'll take him a couple possessions when you need a break. No. He's amazing.

Q. Do you see yourself getting stronger, being a top level two-way player? Do you envision that for yourself?

CARLTON CARRINGTON: Of course. I don't envision the opposite.

Q. That's a bad question.

CARLTON CARRINGTON: Never a bad question. I do, though. It's one thing that the organization sees in myself. It's one thing I see for myself. It's one thing that I grew up being. I never was just a defender or just an offensive player. I always was taught both. I've been always trying to do my best at both. I know I have the ability to do it.

Q. How tough is just the endurance piece of how much energy is requires to defend those types of players and then also have your legs on the other end?

CARLTON CARRINGTON: That's the key right there. Endurance is the main thing. Like I said, everyone's good. Everyone knows what to do. You're taught the same things. Everyone has the same plays. It's just you have the fight to go execute. Do you have endurance? Do you have the will to go do it?

That's one thing I'm learning. I learned that actually from my friend Justin Champagnie. You need a piece on that as well.

Q. About what? The rebounding?

CARLTON CARRINGTON: Next question (laughter).

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
151311-1-1182 2024-12-16 02:43:00 GMT

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